Jenny sticks up for ‘lost’ village

FIGHTING for her village . . . Jenny Greenwood

A Lydgate woman is urging Oldham Council to say it with flowers in a bid to bring traffic calming to the village and raise its profile.

Jenny Greenwood, who claims Lydgate had been “airbrushed” out of Saddleworth’s map, has highlighted problems in a letter to ward councillor John McCann.

Now she is planning to write to all residents to gauge their views on her ideas to improve the village’s identity.

In her letter to the councillor she said: “I have been trying to get a map which shows the boundaries and I am pleased we will soon have clear signs that accurately describe the name of the village and its location.

“But I hope they say ‘Please drive carefully’. Traffic speeds on Stockport-Quick Road are a nightmare and there is a complete lack of consideration shown by some motorists.

“The Parish Council told me the 20 mph speed limit was not enforceable and Oldham Council says there were no concerns as there were no incidents on this road. This is unbelievable.

“But the bollards are constantly being hit by speeding motorists.

“Several cars have gone through a stone wall or run into parked cars.

“Pedestrians are in danger as motorists constantly mount the pavement to pass each other.

“This is especially worrying as vulnerable groups like children at the nursery and some elderly people attending church are particularly at risk.

“Motorists flagrantly ignore the fact that this is a village at all. They race past the traffic calming bollards without a care for residents.

“I feel requests to drive slowly and ‘welcome to our village’ signs will reinforce the fact people actually live here.

“Similarly, tubs of flowers placed on the cobbled areas next to the bollards would make the calming strategy more noticeable and send out a message the village is not a race track.” She said the there should be an improved seating area near the Triangle hairdressers, hanging baskets on lamp posts and notices asking dog walkers not to let pets foul footpaths.

She adds: “Lydgate is a lovely place to live. Obviously people passing through are not residents but we would still like to maintain a polite and awareness-raising approach.” Councillor McCann said Lydgate is facing problems common to small communities: dilution of identity, much heavier traffic in weight and volume, and inappropriate speeds.

He is working with community champion, Councillor Barbara Beeley, co-ordinating plans from the District Partnership.

Councillor McCann added: “We are pressing for signs for Lydgate as a village and having traffic engineers look at road design including speed advice reactive signs.”